Medical rules for drivers

Medical conditions or Disabilities	Special needs and your theory test
What happens after you have told DVLA	Special requirements and your practical driving test
Surrendering your driving licence	Medical renewals
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What happens after you have told DVLA about your medical condition

When you have informed the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of a medical condition or disability, the medical advisers at DVLA will decide whether or not you can satisfy the national medical guidelines and the requirements of the law. A licence is accordingly issued, revoked or refused.

When you have told DVLA of a medical condition or disability

The medical questionnaire that you use to notify DVLA allows you to provide specific details about your medical condition or disability. The questionnaire also enables you to provide your consent for the DVLA medical advisers to request medical information from your doctor's if this is needed. If at all possible a decision will be made about your driving licence at DVLA. If, however, further information is required, then their medical advisers may:

contact your own doctor and or consultant
arrange for you to be examined by a locally appointed medical officer or local consultant or specialist
will ask you to undergo a driving assessment, eyesight or driving test

How long medical enquiries will take

The DVLA aim to complete their enquiries as quickly as possible. The time they take to deal with your particular case will depend on the medical condition you have and the information they need to gather. If the DVLA can make a decision based on the information you originally provided, they aim to make a decision on 97.5% of cases within 15 working days.

If they need more information about your medical condition, either from you, your doctor, or from other sources, or if you are applying for a lorry or bus licence, they aim to make a decision on 80% of cases within 90 working days. If enquiries take longer than the target times set out above, they will write to explain what is happening.

The decision that can be made about your driving licence

Once the medical advisers are satisfied that all the relevant medical information has been made available and they are able to complete their investigation, a decision will be made about your driving licence. The Secretary of State in the person of DVLA's medical advisers alone can make this decision. The decisions that may be made are:

you may be able to retain your licence or be issued with a new driving licence
you may be issued with a driving licence for a period of one, two or three years if the medical adviser decides that a review of your medical fitness is required in the future
you may be issued a driving licence which indicates that special controls need to be fitted to the vehicles you drive to enable you to overcome the effects of a physical disability
your licence may be revoked or your application refused. DVLA will only do this when their enquiries confirm that as a result of your medical condition you are unable to meet the required medical standards of fitness to drive

If your driving licence is revoked or refused by the medical adviser at DVLA you will be:

provided with a medical explanation of why this decision was taken. Wherever possible DVLA will advise you when you can re-apply for your licence
you will be sent notice that will explain your right of appeal to a Magistrates Court if you live in England or Wales, or to a Sheriff Court if you live in Scotland

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